Lets face it, a lot of players will simply reload on NPC death anyway.
Not always, Ian, Katja and Tycho died in Mariposa for me and I continued on.
Marcus and Vic died in Tanker and I continued on.
Jericho died in Deathclaw Sanctuary and I continued on.
And Arcade died when trying to enter Nellis and I continued on.
If I see it as a fitting death then I move forward and let them die.
Dying shouldn't be optional IMO.
Too much handholding, even if people just reload anyway.